Hail to the Lord's Anointed
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power; to make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. (Psalm 145:11-12)
This last month we introduced the song Hail to the Lord’s Anointed, written by Scottish poet, hymn writer and editor James Montgomery ( (1771-1854). The song is a modern arrangement composed by Sandra McCracken of Indelible Grace Music, available on the album Joy Beyond the Sorrow: Indelible Grace IV.
Written to be a metrical rendering of Psalm 72, this hymn was originally inspired for use during Advent - it was first sung at a Mennonite gathering on Christmas Day, 1821. Montgomery penned nearly 400 hymns throughout his lifetime, his most notable titles including Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire, Go to Dark Gethsemane and Angels From the Realms of Glory.
Psalm 72 is both an inspired prayer of king David over the future reign of his son Solomon and a prophetic look forward to the reign of “great David’s greater son”, the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. For the Church this psalm and the subsequent hymn express the joy that we share as citizens of the heavenly kingdom, a kingdom already begun. With hope we look forward with expectation to that kingdom's final consummation at the glorious return of Christ our King.
CHORUS
Hail to the Lord’s anointed, great David’s greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!
His reign on earth begun!
VERSE 1
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free,
To take away transgression, and rule in equity.
VERSE 2
He comes with comfort speedy to those who suffer wrong,
To help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong.
VERSE 3
To give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls, condemned and dying, are precious in His sight.
VERSE 4
He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth,
Love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in His path to birth.
VERSE 5
The tide of time shall never His covenant remove.
His Name shall stand forever, That Name to us is Love.
James Montgomery | Sandra McCracken
Copyright 2012, 2015 Drink Your Tea Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
Posted in Doxology and Theology
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